1 Timothy, 1

1. Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, [which is] our hope;

2. to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord.

2. Unto Timothy, [my] own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, [and] peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

3. When I was setting out for Macedonia I urged you to stay on in Ephesus to instruct certain people not to spread wrong teaching

3. As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

4. or to give attention to myths and unending genealogies; these things only foster doubts instead of furthering God's plan which is founded on faith.

4. Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: [so do].

5. The final goal at which this instruction aims is love, issuing from a pure heart, a clear conscience and a sincere faith.

5. Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and [of] a good conscience, and [of] faith unfeigned:

6. Some people have missed the way to these things and turned to empty speculation,

6. From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

7. trying to be teachers of the Law; but they understand neither the words they use nor the matters about which they make such strong assertions.

7. Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

8. We are well aware that the Law is good, but only provided it is used legitimately,

8. But we know that the law [is] good, if a man use it lawfully;

9. on the understanding that laws are not framed for people who are upright. On the contrary, they are for criminals and the insubordinate, for the irreligious and the wicked, for the sacrilegious and the godless; they are for people who kill their fathers or mothers and for murderers,

9. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10. for the promiscuous, homosexuals, kidnappers, for liars and for perjurers -- and for everything else that is contrary to the sound teaching

10. For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

11. that accords with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, the gospel that was entrusted to me.

11. According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

12. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. By calling me into his service he has judged me trustworthy,

12. And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;

13. even though I used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous. Mercy, however, was shown me, because while I lacked faith I acted in ignorance;

13. Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief.

14. but the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.

14. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

15. Here is a saying that you can rely on and nobody should doubt: that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. I myself am the greatest of them;

15. This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

16. and if mercy has been shown to me, it is because Jesus Christ meant to make me the leading example of his inexhaustible patience for all the other people who were later to trust in him for eternal life.

16. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

17. To the eternal King, the undying, invisible and only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18. Timothy, my son, these are the instructions that I am giving you, in accordance with the words once spoken over you by the prophets, so that in their light you may fight like a good soldier

18. This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare;

19. with faith and a good conscience for your weapons. Some people have put conscience aside and wrecked their faith in consequence.

19. Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

20. I mean men like Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan so that they may learn not to be blasphemous.

20. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.